JG3 Oberleutnant Alfred Humer

[Heiko1]

I am hoping to receive information on Oblt Alfred Humer. He was killed 10 Feb 1944 and was found 10 kilometer westerly of lingen, Germany. He also fought in Stalingrad at the beginning of the war crashed (Bf109F4-Wer#8788) and was listed MIA in russia after antiaircraft fire hit his plane then returned unhurt and was eventually re-assigned to Netherlands and became StaffelKapitan of 10.JG 3. I am trying to get info on his two planes BF109G6 Werk#411023 and any personal or military info. I have a list of his 21 victories and am aware of the large B17/P47allied attck on Brunswick (outside of Berlin)that day. I know little about his plane or what happened at that crash other than he somehow made it back from a large air battle that day (2/10/44) and the crashed 10K west of Lohn near Lingen. Around 11.05 hrs the IV. Gruppe prepared to attack the B-17’s just north of Almelo. According to the memories of Herbert Kutscha who was visited in 1992 by my informant, the Gruppe was attacked out of the sun and totally by surprise by a group of 50 Thunderbolts. In fact this was the US 359th Fighter Group. On this day the 359th FG was led by Col. Tacon, the Group Commander. At around 11.05-11.10 they bounced some 15-20 Bf 109’s as they state in their report……these are the Messerschmitt of IV./JG 3. The German pilots, taken by surprise, didn’t stand a chance
If anyone can help with more detail it would be appreciated. I speak some German but it is easier for me in English.
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Oberleutnant Alfred Humer is my interest. He was credited with 21 victories and flew in Stalingrad (MIA) and then with JG 3 in the Netherlands where he was killed on 2/10/44. I would like to gather as much personal information on him as possible. If you have pictures or plane info or anything we would greatly appreciate it.

[Nick Beale]

I have this deciphered report from IV./JG 3 on 10 February 1944.

[Gordon Raddock]

Alfred Humer was born on 16 December 1920 at Michelsdorf. He began his military service with FAR 61 at Oschatz in November 1939. On completion of his flying training Lt. Humer was posted to 1./JG 3 re-forming at Wiesbaden in early 1942. By mid June 1943, Oblt. Humer was serving with 2./JG 3 on Reichsverteidigung duties. In late July-early August 1943, Humer was appointed Staffelkapitän of 10./JG 3. He succeeded Lt. Otto Wessling (RK, 83 victories, killed in action 19 April 1944). On 10 February 1944, Humer was shot down and killed in aerial combat, his Bf 109 G-6 (WNr. 411023) crashing 8 km W of Lohne, near Bingen.

[Heiko1]

Thankyou for your responses .. we keep looking also for the american pilot that got credit for shooting Humer down. Anyone have any records for 2/10/44 by the 359th?

[drgondog]

I am somewhat curious about the note "50 Thunderbolts" as that would be a bounce by all three squadrons which are normally separted by at least a mile during escort duties.

It is possible the 359th was doing a Sweep in which case the entire group would be more concentrated - but even then doctrine would bounce with one squadron and follow with more as required... usually when another force of German fighters engaged, that were not seen originally.

So, the usual practice was to attack with the lead (or trailing depending on where the German fighters were positioned) section eight, calling out the location - and the other section might or might not join depending on squadron commander prerogative.

[Heiko1]

thanks .. for adding a piece that is helpful in my attempt to reconstruct as much info as possible for Oblt. Humer. This is info i recently received

Since late January 1944 the IV./JG 3 was based at Venlo airfield in the Netherlands. Take off must have been around 10.30 hrs. Some 20+ Bf 109’s took off and were led by Oblt. Kutscha, the Staffelführer of 12. Staffel. They headed north towards the Almelo-Enschede-Lingen area. (Almelo and Enschede are in the Netherlands). The following pilots are known to have flown that mission;


Lt. Dieter Zink, Stab IV./JG 3.
Oblt. Alfred Humer, 10. Staffel, Staffelführer.
Fj.Fw. Konrad Sommer, 10. Staffel.
Uffz. Alfred Brandes, 10. Staffel.
Fw. Hans Schäfer, 10. Staffel.
Lt. Hermann Schmied, 11. Staffel, Staffelführer.
Lt. Hans-Joachim Schroth, 11. Staffel.
Oblt. Herbert Kutscha, 12. Staffel, Staffelkapitän (Knights Cross).
Uffz. Ernst Posemann, 12. Staffel.
Uffz. Ottokar Bente, 12. Staffel.

Around 11.05 hrs the IV. Gruppe prepared to attack the B-17’s just north of Almelo. According to the memories of Herbert Kutscha, the Gruppe was attacked out of the sun and totally by surprise by a group of 50 Thunderbolts. In fact this was the US 359th Fighter Group. On this day the 359th FG was led by Col. Tacon, the Group Commander. At around 11.05-11.10 they bounce some 15-20 Bf 109’s as they state in their report……these are the Messerschmitt of IV./JG 3. The German pilots, as I am told, were taken by surprise, didn’t stand a chance.

[Heiko1]

Here are 5 American pilots reporting their e/a (ME 109 J3) as destroyed on February 10th 1944

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have about this fellow in our Officer Career Database:

HUMER, Alfred. (DOB: 16.12.20 in Michelsdorf). 11.39 began training at Fl.Ausb.Rgt. 61. Early 1942 trf to 1./JG 3. 28.06.42 MIA - Bf 109 F-4 (White 4) hit by AA vic Iranowka (Ivanovka?), but returned. 01.06.43 in JG 3, promo to Oblt. Mid-06.43 with 2./JG 3. c.24.07.43 Oblt., appt Staka 10./JG 3 (to 10.02.44, KIA - shot down in Bf 109 G-6 that crashed 8 km W of Lohne, near Bingen. Credited with 21 victories.

The Tom Kracker Database furthermore says:

KIA 10 February, 1944 (Magnus). Reported MIA on 28 June, 1942 after being hit by flak at Iranowka; pilot returned later. One known victory, his first, a Soviet I-61 on 17 May, 1942. His 2nd, a MiG-1 on 21 May, 1942. His 3rd and 4th, both Bostons on 8 July, 1942. His 5th, a Hurricane on 10 July, 1942. His 6th, 7th & 8th, three LaGG-3's on 17 July, 1942. His 9th, an Il-2 on 20 July, 1942. His 10th, an Il-2 on 21 July, 1942. Two Yak-1's on 28 October, 1942. His 20th, a B-17 (HSS) 4 km SE of Gemund on 30 July, 1943. His 21st, a P-47 at Oldenburg on 2 February, 1944.

Flew aircraft: Bf 109F-4 Werk # 8788 "White 4" (lost 6/28/42), Bf 109G



That's about all I can find.

Good Luck.

DGS

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

I can find only sixteen confirmed claims for Humer. The first fourteen as a Lt with 1./Jg3, the fifteenth as an Oblt with 2./Jg3, and his sixteen as an Oblt with 10./Jg3.

17th May 1942 MiG-3 1735 hrs Nr.1
21st May 1942 MiG-1 1620 hrs Nr.2
8th July 1942 2x Boston 0445 hrs & 0447 hrs Nr.3-4.
10th July 1942 Hurricane 0823 hrs Nr.5
17th July 1942 3x LaGG-3 0655 hrs, 0706 hrs & 0714 hrs Nr.6-8
20th July 1942 Il-2 1552 hrs Nr.9
21st July 1942 Il-2 at 0855 hrs, Jak-1 at 0857 hrs & Il-2 at 0901 hrs(200 metres) Nr.10-12.
28th October 1942 2x Jak-1 at 1055 hrs 20km East of Stalingrad(200 metres) & 1102 hrs at the Lenisk airstrip(low altitude)both were A.S.M Nr.13-14.
30th July 1943 B-17 0845 hrs South-East of Gemünd(7000 metres) H.S.S Nr.15.
3rd February 1944 B-47 1110 hrs South of Oldenburg(9000 metres) Nr.16.

Regards

Johannes